Genetic elucidation of flowering time determination responding to climate temperature fluctuations in Asian rice cultivars

In order to develop climate resilient crops, it is necessary to elucidate the genetic basis underling responsiveness to ambient environmental changes in plants. To identify genetic factors for flowering time under different seasonal temperature conditions, we developed chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) derived from crosses between japonica rice cultivars 'Koshihikari' and 'Khao Nam Jen' each of which could show different robustness to environmental fluctuations in flowering time. In this study, to compare gene expression patterns between 'Koshihikari' and SL2812 having a 'Khao Nam Jen' segment on the long arm of chromosome 3, we carried out RNA-seq-based transcriptome analysis of their highest expansion leaf sampled from field grown rice plants in 2015 and 2016.